This document summarizes SOLAS Chapter II-2 requirements regarding fire safety systems for seagoing vessels. Key points include: - Requirements for fire pumps, water supplies, hydrants and international shore connections for passenger and cargo ships. - Standards for fire main diameters, hoses, nozzles and portable extinguishers. - Fixed firefighting systems required in machinery spaces, accommodation areas, cargo spaces and for ships carrying dangerous goods. - Personnel protection equipment such as firefighter outfits, breathing apparatuses and protective clothing. - Maintenance standards for portable extinguishers and instructions for operating fixed systems.

1. SOLAS Chap.II/2-FFA REQUIREMENTS
complying with the Fire Safety Systems
Code.
Category A Seagoing vessels with no limitation
on length of trips.
WATER SUPPLY

Passenger ships:

of 1,000 gross tonnage and upwards
such that at least one effective jet of
water is immediately available from any
hydrant in an interior location and so as
to ensure the continuation of the output
of water by the automatic starting of one
required fire pump
IN CARGO SHIPS:

there shall be immediate water delivery
from the fire main system at a suitable
pressure, either by remote starting of
one of the main fire pumps with remote
starting from the navigation bridge and
fire control station
Diameter of the fire mains
Fire pumps in passenger ships of:
4,000 gross tonnage and upwards at
least three
less than 4,000 gross tonnage at least
two
in cargo ships of:1,000 gross tonnage
and upwards at least two. Total required
capacity of the fire pumps is 180m3/hr. A pump
shall have 80% of the total required capacity
divided by the minimum number of fire
pumps...but in any case not less than 25m3/hr
The diameter of the fire main shall be
such that it shall be able to give a
maximum required discharge from 2 fire
mains; except that in case of cargo ships
the “diameter” should only be sufficient
for discharge of 140m^3/hr.
Number and position of hydrants


The number and position of hydrants
shall be such that at least two jets of
water not emanating from the same
hydrant, one of which shall be from a
single length of hose, may reach any
part of the ship.
In a Cargo space when empty, any ro-ro
space or any vehicle space in which two
jets shall reach any part of the space,
each from a single length of hose.
International shore connection

Ships of 500 gross tonnage and
upwards shall be provided with at least
one international shore connection
Details of flange( as per MSN 1665)
Outside diameter: 178 millimetres
Inner diameter: 64 millimetres
Bolt circle diameter: 132 millimetres
Holes: 4 holes of 19 millimetres in
diameter equidistantly placed, slotted
to the flange periphery
Flange thickness: 14.5 millimetres
minimum
Bolts: 4 each of 16 millimetres
diameter; 50 millimetres in length with
washers
Flange surface flat face
Material: any suited to 1 MPa service
Gasket: any suited to 1 MPa service

Additional pumps for cargo ships
In addition, in cargo ships where other
pumps, such as general service, bilge
and ballast, etc., are fitted in a
machinery space, arrangements shall be
made to ensure that at least one of these
pumps, is capable of providing water to
the fire main.
Emergency fire pump:
Capacity shall not be less than
40% of the total capacity of the
fire pumps,and in any case not
less than 25m3/hr

2. SOLAS Chap.II/2-FFA REQUIREMENTS
Should be capable of delivering
2 jets of water with the pressure
of not less than 2.1 bar
Tank should have enough
amount of fuel to have the
pump running for 3 hours and
additionally there should be
enough more fuel to keep the
pump running for another 15
hours.
Portable fire extinguishers

Accommodation spaces, service spaces
and control stations shall be provided
with portable fire extinguishers of
appropriate types and in sufficient
number.

Ships of 1,000 gross tonnage and
upwards shall carry at least five
portable fire extinguishers.

One of the portable fire extinguishers
intended for use in any space shall be
stowed near the entrance of that space.

CO² extinguishers shall not be placed in
accommodation spaces.

Fire extinguishers shall be situated
ready for use at easily visible places.

Extinguishers shall be provided with
devices which indicate whether they
have been used.

Spare charges shall be provided for
100% of the first ten extinguishers and
50% of the remaining fire extinguishers .
Fire hoses and nozzles

Fire hoses shall be of non-perishable
material.

Each hose shall be provided with a
nozzle and the necessary couplings.

in interior locations in passenger ships
carrying more than 36 passengers, fire
hoses shall be connected to the
hydrants at all times. Fire hoses shall
have a length of at least 10 m
but not more than:

15 m in machinery spaces;

20 m in other spaces and open decks;
and

25 m for open decks on ships with a
maximum breadth in excess of 30 m.
Fire Extinguishers Maintenance

The extinguishers should be examined
annually by a competent person. During
these examinations plastic collars etc.
which may conceal the condition of the
steel underneath should be removed.
Each extinguisher should be provided
with a sign indicating it has been
examined.

Containers of permanently pressurised
and non-permanently pressurised fire
extinguishers should be hydraulically
pressure tested every 10 years.

Carbon dioxide extinguishers and gas
expellent cartridges of other
extinguishers should be recharged or
renewed if the loss of gas by weight
In passenger ships, there shall be at least one
fire hose for each of the hydrants.
In cargo ships of 1,000 gross tonnage and
upwards, the number of fire hoses to be
provided shall be one for each 30 m length of
the ship and one spare, but not less than five in
all. May be increased if the administration
requires , Ships carrying dangerous goods in
addition be provided with three hoses and
nozzles. Nozzles shall be of an approved dualpurpose type (i.e. spray/jet type) incorporating a
shutoff.

Nozzles shall be dual-purpose type (i.e.
spray/jet type) incorporating a shutoff.

3. SOLAS Chap.II/2-FFA REQUIREMENTS
exceeds 10% of the original charge as
stamped on the bottle or cartridge.

Dry powder extinguishers may suffer
from compaction when subject to
vibration. At least one should be
discharged annually and the retention of
contents checked. Where the retention is
found to be in excess of 15% of the
initial charge, further extinguishers
should be discharged.
Fire-extinguishing arrangements in
machinery spaces

Machinery spaces of category A
containing oil-fired boilers or oil fuel
units shall be provided with any one of
the fixed fire-extinguishing systems.

Each boiler room least one portable
foam applicator.

At least 2 portable foam extinguishers
(least 135 litre) in each firing space.
Fixed fire-extinguishing systems

A fixed fire-extinguishing system either:

Receptacle least 0.1 m³ sand, sawdust
impregnated with soda.

a fixed gas (CO² )fire-extinguishing
system

There shall be provided a sufficient
number of portable foam extinguishers
or equivalent which shall be so located
that no point in the space is more than
10 m walking distance from an
extinguisher and that there are at least
two such extinguishers in each such
space.

Passenger ships of 500 gross tonnage

a fixed high-expansion foam fireextinguishing system

a fixed pressure water-spraying fireextinguishing system

CO² system, require that 85% of the
required concentrations for machinery
spaces and cargo pump rooms is
achieved in such spaces within two
minutes. However the arrangements
should additionally provide for a
discharge of at least 50% of the required
amount of gas in the first minute of
operation.


Instructions for operating the
installation must be displayed near the
remote.
The arrangements should be such that
the alarm is given automatically before
the release of CO² operating controls,
distribution control valves and also near
the gas cylinders.

CO² maybe used as the fixed means of
extinguishing fires in galley ducts.

Sufficient foam should be provided to
cover to a depth of 150mm all areas
directed by fixed sprayers
Fire-extinguishing arrangements in control
stations, accommodation and service spaces

Passenger ships carrying more than 36
passengers shall be equipped with an
automatic sprinkler, fire detection and
fire alarm system

Paint rooms: must have either a, Dry
powder or CO² (40% vol) or a water
spraying or sprinkler system.

Deep-fat cooking equipment an
automatic or manual fire-extinguishing
system , primary and backup
thermostat with an alarm ,
automatically shutting off the electrical
power, alarm for indicating operation of
the fire-extinguishing system in the
galley.

4. SOLAS Chap.II/2-FFA REQUIREMENTS
Fire-extinguishing arrangements in cargo
spaces


Cargo spaces of passenger ships of
1,000 gt +, ro-ro and vehicle spaces,
cargo spaces on cargo ships of 2,000
gross tonnage and upwards shall be
protected by a fixed CO² fireextinguishing system exempted cargo
spaces of any cargo ship if constructed,
and solely intended for, the carriage of
ore, coal, grain, unseasoned timber,
non-combustible cargoes.
A ship engaged in the carriage of
dangerous goods in any cargo spaces
shall be provided with a fixed carbon
dioxide or inert gas fire-extinguishing
system.
Regulation 19.
Carriage of dangerous goods

Purpose-built container ships and cargo
spaces intended for the carriage of
dangerous goods in freight containers
and portable tanks; ro-ro ships and roro spaces intended for the carriage of
dangerous goods , ships and cargo
spaces intended for the carriage of solid
dangerous goods in bulk.

The quantity of water delivered shall be
capable of supplying four nozzles.

Means shall be provided for effectively
cooling the designated under-deck cargo
space

However, the drainage and pumping
arrangements shall be such as to
prevent the build-up of free surfaces.
The drainage system shall be sized to
remove no less than 125% of the
combined capacity of both the water
spraying system pumps and the
required number of fire hose nozzles.

Personnel protection

Four sets of full protective clothing,
resistant to chemical attack, shall be
provided in addition to the fire-fighter's
outfits.

At least two self-contained breathing
apparatuses additional to those required
by regulation 10 shall be provided.
Cargo tank protection.

For tankers of 20,000 tonnes
deadweight and upwards, a fixed deck
foam fire-extinguishing system shall be
provided.
Fire-fighter's outfits

Ships shall carry at least two firefighter's outfits

Passenger ships for every 80 m, or part
two fire-fighter's outfits and, in addition,
two sets of personal equipment,

Passenger ships carrying more than 36
passengers, two additional fire-fighter's
outfits . For each pair of breathing
apparatus, one water fog applicator
which shall be stored adjacent.

In tankers, +2 fire-fighter's outfits
(total 4 nos.) shall be provided .

The Administration may require
additional sets of personal equipment
and breathing apparatus, having due
regard to the size and type of the ship.